Way grinding machine



4 CLBALDENl-[OFER 2,252,877

WAY GRINDING MACHINE Filed oat. 1a, 1939 a Sheets-Sheet 1 VATTOKEYS 1941- c. BALDENHOFER WAY GRINDING MACHINE 8 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1939 IAl/l/ E/ //////////j jmilmtar Qm/srm/v Imps/worse flttafney:

j r! I I //A/ 1941- c. BA LDENHOFER WAY GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1959 8 Sheds-Sheet 3 Aug. 19 1941. Q c. BALDENHOFER WAY GRINDING MACHINE Fil ed Oct. 13, 1959 a Sheds-Sheet;

-./n zrentar CHRISTIAN flaws/mam? 3y Au 19, 1941. Q ALDENHOFER 2,252,877

WAY GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1939 a Sheets-Sheet 5 1 O my f7: ventur- 98- 9 c. BALDENHOFER 2,252,377

' WAY GRINDING MACHINE Fild Oct. 13, 1939 a Sheets-Sheet s I D Y I ,5, w Fm /70 /Z2/Z? y T V x 6' I C. BALDENHOFER WAY GRINDING MACHINE Aug. 19, 1941.

a Sheet s-Sheet Filed 001:. 13, 1939 Y W aw W? Kalil! L r L? k r INVENTOR Caz/swan ATTO NEY:

' 1 c. BALDENHOFER WAY GRINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1,939 8 Shqets-Sheet 8 Piteliled All. 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE WAY GRINDING MACHINE 7 Christian Baidenhofer, Springfield; om, assignor to The Thompson Grinder Company, Springfield, Ohio. a corporation of Ohio Application October 13, 1939, Serial No. 299,352

6Ciaims.- (CL 51-42) port.

Another object is to provide an improved surface grinding machine which comprises multiple grinding mechanism arranged to straddle the workand whereby the grinding mechanism can be controlled from a central position.

Another object is to provide a multi-way grind- 7 ing machine comprising laterally spaced grinding wheels which are supported by an overhead bridge structure and designed so that each of the grinding wheel means can be shifted independently vertically and laterally to the same or different working positions.

Another obiect is to devise agrinding machine- V equipped with grinding wheel members which are the machine showing the unitary frame construc tion and arrangement of the grinding wheel head mechanism and work table members: detail associated parts being omitted in the interest of clearness; i

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the combined manual and hydraulic mechanism for reciprocating the grinding wheel head member crosswise both manually and hydraulically operable forvarying their vertical and lateral movements.

Another object is to devise a grinding machine comprising spaced grinding wheels and reciprocable work table wherein said grinding wheels are supported by an overhead interconnecting structure so as to provide a unitary grinding machine operable 'to simultaneously grind multiple work piece surfaces.

Another object is to devise a unitary multiple grinding machine whereby two or more working part surfaces may be ground simultaneously by f independently controlled grinding wheel mechanism.

Another object is to provide a machine for straddle grinding with the use 'of multiple grinding wheel means which are equipped for lateral and vertical adjustment and operable either manually or hydraulically.

Another object is to devise a duo-surface grinding machine comprising 'two complementary grinding wheel means which are interconnected by unitary frame structure and arranged 'to be operated as a multi-way surfacing mechanism.

Another object'is to provide a multi-way grinding mechanism having multiple grinding wheel means which can be adiustably positioned above the work by manually or electrically operated means.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of ing machine of this invention;

Figure 2 .is a vertical secti the way grindtaken on the line H of Figure 5 which is further indicated at line H on, Figure 3. showing the mechanism for reciprocating the grinding wheel members crosswise of the machine:

Figure 5 is a similar fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 8-5 of Figure 4 which is further indicated at line 5-5 on Figure 3, showing the clutch mechanism through which the manual and hydraulic actuated means is connected to the cross-feed grinding wheel mechanism; I

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through one of the combined manual and electrically operated grinding wheel head elevating and lowering mechanisms showing the clutch and associated operating parts:

) Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the grinding wheel elevating and lowering mechanism showing the arrangement of the. electrical switch and clutch control means;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation view, partly broken away, illustrating the motor driving connections and operating control means:

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line !l of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the grinding wheel head members and assoelated reciprocating means:

Figure 12 is'a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of the hydraulic system and associated mechanism for controlling the movement of the table and grinding wheel head members.

General disclosure Referring to the drawings in detail. in Figures nal view through 1 and 2 there is shown a way grinding machine constructed according to my invention, comprising a stationary base or bed l5, which is preferably' mounted level upon a solid floor or structural support during operation of the machine. The

base l supports a reciprocable table It arranged to fixedly support the work piece means II which is to be ground. The work piece may be suitably fastened to the table, as shown at l3. The grinding wheel mechanism is supported by frame structure generally designated 23 which straddles the work table i 6, as iilustratedin Figure 2. The frame structure 23 is suitably secured, as by bolts 2| as illustrated in Figure 2, to the table supporting base 15.

v The work feedtable i3 is shaped to engage- I bolted to the base portion 2: beneath the table.

The piston is operably connected at its outer end to the bracket 23 which in turn is fastened to the undercarriage part of the feed table and is adapted to reciprocate the feed table I6 carrying the work piece I! back and forth beneath the grinding wheel head members generally designated 30 and 3|. The grinding wheel head members and associated mechanism are laterally reciprocable independently in the saddle supports generally designated 33 which comprise the depending groove guide portions "33 which slidabiy support the grinding wheel head mechanism.

Grinding 'uiheel head cross-feed operating mechanism i a Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 the hand wheel 35 is operable manually-to move the grinding wheel mechanism laterally with respect to the work table Hi,' The cross feed means comprises the worm 33, worm gear 31,- clutch 33, shaft 39 and spur gear 33. Spur gear 33 is keyed to the shaft 39 and is adapted to engage the rack 4| which is suitably fixed, as by machine screws 33, to. the grinding wheel he'ad membergeneralformed on the top portion r lb. The opposite side of when the'clutch 33 is engaged, by grasping the 3 knob 33a and moving it inward, the grinding wheel mechanism is locked against operation by the hydraulically actuated piston means 53/ 1 Valve rod 33, as shown in Figure 3, is connected to the piston valve 55 whichis reciprocable in cylinder 34 so as to change thevalve setting and control the reciprocation of the piston rod means 3|, when the grinding wheel head members are manipulated by the hydraulic actuating mechanism.. The outer end of the-valve rod 33 is equipped with a knurled knob 69 for manually operating the valve 55. Reversing valve lever 13 extends transversely of the valve rod 63 and has fixedly mounted thereon the pushing fork member 12. Valve rod 38 is adapted to lie in the fork l2 and be reciprocated axially by the forks 12a which are positioned to engage the cam means 13 mounted on the valve. rod member 33 to reciprocate the reversing valve 13 longitudinally when the valve rod 68 is rotated. Rotation of the valve rod 63 brings the cam I3 in engagement with either one of the fork members 12a sliding the reversing lever 13 axially. v

To move the valve rod 38 axially there are provided the opposed collars 15 on the valve rod 33 which are suitably secured thereto at either end of the cam 13. Suitably fixed on the valve rod 33 is a finger member 18 which is arranged to rest in the V-shaped stop member 11 when the hydraulic actuating ,meansfor reciprocating the grinding wheel head members is to be set in neutral or hand feed position, as shown in Figure -3. The reversing rod 13 is loosely mounted at its ends in the side walls of the stationary saddle member 33 and the rod is adapted to be rotated as well as moved axially. Spaced from the innerend and fixed on the reversing lever 13 is -a wedge shaped cam member 19 having diametrically oppositely inclined cam surfaces'13a which. are adapted to be engaged by the roller ly designated 33. Rotation of the shaft 39 resuits in movement of thevgrindin'g wheel head member 33 crosswise of the work table I3. For

' automatic operation a hydraulic cylinder and piston member generally designated 33 is 'employed. The piston rod member 3| is operatively connected to a T-shaped bracket 32 which is secured to the grinding wheel head member 33 by means of the machine screws 33. Valve chamber 33 houses the valve mechanism for controlling the fiow offluid to and from the cylinder 33. The valve mechanism comprises a piston 33 which is slidabie in the bore 33 of the cylinder 33. A longitudinal opening 31 is provided in the stationary saddle member for accommo- 33. The inner end of the clutch member 33 isq pped with teeth 32 which mesh withthe opposed teeth 33 formed on-the ring 33; Thisring member is suitably fastened to the worm gear 31 by vmeans of the machinescrews 33.. r The worm gear 31 is looaeiy'mounted on induced 33 mounted on the end of the depending arm 3| intermediate the ends of the. pivoted'lever 32. The lever 32 pivots about the pin 33and a compression spring means 35 engages'the opposite end of the lever 32, as at 33, and urges the lever to swing downward about the pivot pin 83 forcing the roller 33 in contact with the cam 19. This arrangement prevents the valve rod 33 from coming to rest in a neutral position and provides a quick positive acting valve reversing lever action. a

For actuating the valve 13 to reverse the direction of movement of the grinding wheel, a

F which are fastened to the reciprocable grinding wheel head member 33. The dogs 32 are slidably mounted on the base member 33 and are equipped with suitable lock nut means 33 for fixing them in: any desired position relative to the base memto contact one or the other of the collars I3 and :shiftthe valvemdjlr as flqlreyerse the. travel. of the" grinding wheel head mechanism: In

The dogs 32 are adapted to engage the .end of the depending crank-arm 33 and rotatethe' rod "sons to causethe fork member'lla a aasasrr 3 Boeing around the crank arm II is a U-shaped guide it having inner inclined cam surfaces "as.

- which are adapted to guide the arm 33 into'the pointer m attached to the'valve rod 63 adjacent the knob is and which is movable over the dial IIII. In the position indicated at C on the dial, as shown in Figure 3, the grinding wheel cross feed valve CI is set for manual operation. when the pointer i" is set-at position 18 the dogs 52 will not bJcontacted by the reversing arm lever 3. so that the mechanism accordingly mustbe manually reversed. Upon movement of go the pointer to position A, the mechanism is set for full automatic reversing operation and in this positionthe grinding wheel head members will be reversed automatically by the dogs 32 which alnally of the shaft I I1. On .the forward end of the ternately strike the end of themember .93 to gs actuate the valve reversing lever II.

As shown in Figure l, the coolant or grinding wheel member through the hose Ill and is dewheel composition is supplied to each grinding livered onto the work surface through the nozzle so I03. A hand valve III is provided for adjusting the amount of coolant, used. The coolant is circulated by a fluid pump, not shown, and the impeller of the pump is preferably submerged Elevating and lowering mechanism for the grinding wheel head members F The mechanism for vertically reciprocating the grinding wheel assemblage comprises the vertical 40v mechanism up or down there is provided a control lever I" which is operably connected to the clutch lever I3I. for-engaglnzthe clutch III so that the vertical screw shafts can be electrically motor driven. When thelever I is moved upward from its position, as shown in Figure 8, 1

the'clutch operating lever I3I is rotated reciprocating the fork lever I32 sliding the attached collar: I33 to the right to throw the clutch mechanism in engagement, as shown in Figure 6. This is accomplished by engagement 'of the cam surface portion I330 on the collar I33 with the pivoted lever members I34 which in turn squeeze the friction clutch plates I35 in driving engagement with the driven plate members I38 which are rotated by the sprocket I22 and attached 7 lateral extending members I31 which are suitably fastened thereto as at I38.

The collar I33 is keyed to the shaft I II, a at I", and the collar is adapted to slide longitudicollar I33 there are provided teeth I42 which are adapted to engage with the teeth I43 on the rearward end of the stub .sh'aftl of thelhand wheel H5. A brake member I45 is arranged to" be contactedwith the innerhub of the shaft I- of the hand wheel by the arm member I" which,

is integral with the clutch shifting lever I32. In

this way, when the hand-wheel II! is 'declutched from the member I33, rotation of the wheel II! is prevented by the brake Ill. The hand wheel II! rotates freely on an extension of the shaft III and is suitably retained on lthe end thereof by the cap I. A vernier hand control member, I" is in the coolant so that the unit is self-priming. 35

ranged to be operated from a central position by 45 the operator, as shown irrFigures 1 and 2; actuation of the screw on the right side of the table from the operator being eifected through the transverse shaft III and bevel gearing Ill. Hand wheel-members generally designated II! are operatively connected through the clutch 8- to the shaft II! and bevel gearing to rotate the vertical screw shafts III. The hand wheels I I3 are equipped with suitable handles II! for use in manually rotating-the wheels. Each of the screw shafts is operable independently so as to position the grinding wheel membersgin any desired position along the vertical axis of the screw shafts. The clutch and associated mechanism is housed in the casing II3.

As shown in Figure 8, the screw members I Ill may be independently operated automatically by reversible driving motor means I" which is suitably .positioned in the base'of the housing provided for obtaining fine adjustments for vertically positioning the grinding wheels. This mechanism, as shown in Figure 6, comprises a fixed gear wheel I5I and an axially shiftable pinion gear I52.

A knob I53 is provided for grasping the outer end of the'pinion gear shaft and moving the gear I52 in' engagement with the teeth on the gear wheel Iii so as to move the hand wheel H3 as required. "When not in use the vernier hand control means is shifted inward so as to disengage the gear I52 from the gear ISI to permit free movement of the hand wheel IIS. Motor drive means I!!! which raises or lowers the grinding wheel mechanism on the shafts H0 is placed in operation by shifting the lever I30 to the right or left so as to close one or the other of the electric switches I55. are positioned at opposite sides of the clutch control lever I30, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, andare connected so that when the electrical con-'- nections are made through the control lever I30 I and the switch on the right, the motor I23 rom. A driving connection .is-made to theshaft collar I24 whichisretained on the shaft III by the pin I25. If desired the clutch means II3 may be omitted from theconstruction' and the sprocket I22 keyed to theshaft III. For controlling the direction of rotation of the screw members so as to move the grinding wheel head 76 tates in one direction, and when made through I the switch on the left, rotation is in the opposite direction.

Wheel head support and vertically moving mechanism Thesaddle-like grinding wheel head supporting'members 33 are adapted to be movedup and down 'on the vertical screw members II II while being slidably retained against the spaced vertical guide members I60. Guide members I" are of .L-shaped cross section, as shown in Figure 9,

and are preferably formed integral with the frame structure 20. The rearward extending portion of the wheel head support members!!! fit around the guide members I 30 and are secured thereto by means of the opposed inward extending bosses I62. These bosses are bolted to The electrical switch members I" openings or door, members -IOI.

the wheel head body member as at I63, so as to interlock the grinding head-member 33 with the flange portions of the guide members I60.

Tapered gibs I65 are positioned between the.

- guide member I60 and wheel head support means,

as illustrated in Figure 9. The gibsj are retained in place by the attaching plate means I66, and

, the gibs are adjustable to permit the saddle to follow the screw downward by its own weight.

. frictionnut generally designated I which comprises a plurality of separate roller members Ill having the.threads I'IIa.. The rollers IIl are suitably journaled in the housing I12 which is bolted to the rear structure of the saddle 33. The vertical screw member I I0 is adapted to pass through the central opening I13 in the housing I12, and the threads I14 on the screw member IIO are adapted to engage with the threads "In 'of the rollers and support the grinding wheel head saddle member 33. This construction ma terially reduces the friction in operating the screw member H0 and provides an improved The master valve I95 comprises the grinding J wheel head control lever 20I which is arranged to be off when in vertical position. By moving mechanism for raising and lowering the grinding wheels and associated parts with ease.

Grinding wheel head construction The grinding wheel head is constructed, as shown in Figure; 11, with a motor I15 positioned on the spindle I16. The grinding wheel member generally designated I'I'I is suitably mounted on the outer end of the spindle or axle I16 and rotates when the spindle I16 is driven by the motor. Grinding wheels which have been dynamically and statically balanced are preferably used. Ventilation of the motor parts is provided for by a fan I18 which is mounted on a spindle at the rear of the motor, as illustrated in Figure 11.

During operation air is drawn into the head through the openings in the front end of the grinding head mechanism and is expelled radially through the openings provided in the head casing.

The front bearing I80 is preferably made of a bronze sleeve orequivalent bearing metal while the rear bearing I3I is of the ball bearing type.-

The whole wheel head and motor is reciprocated as a unit by the hydraulic piston cylinder generally designated 50, which is mounted in the saddle or grinding wheel head mechanism 33, as Y illustrated in Figure 11.

Hydraulic system for reciprocating the 'table feed and grinding wheel cross-feed mechanism For controlling the reciprocation of the work table and grinding wheel cross-feed movement I outward to the master fluid throttle valve I35 by-way of the pipe connections I90 and I01. A v75 the lever 20I to the right a continuous moveis controlled by the position of the piston valve member 55, asillustrated in Figure 12. Ports 206 in the piston walls permit discharge of the fluid from either side of the piston or ram member 20'! for moving the grinding wheels laterally manually when the hydraulic feeding mechanism is in neutral or on position. A- common discharge line 200 is connected to the valve chamber 54 to return the used. fluid back to the tank .The table control valve lever is connected to the master valve as at 2I0. By raising the lever 2I0, fluid is admitted through the pipe 2" through the piston valve M2 to the cylinder" 25 to move the table when the piston valve 2I2 is set to admit fluid thereto; Fluid is admitted to and returned from the cylinder 25 at one side or the other of the piston 2I3 by way of the conduits 2I5 and 2I6. when the lever 2I0 is in the horizontal position, movement of the table is stopped and upon further downward movement of the lever the fluid is unloaded from the valve through the pipe 2" and returned to the storage tank I90.

The table reversing lever H8 is connected to the piston valve 2I2 by the rod 2I9, as shown in,

Figure 12, and is actuated to reverse the directional travel of the table It by reversing the flow of fluid to the table operating cylinder 25. When the lever 2I0 is moved to the left the table moves to the right and vice versa. Movement of the table may be reversed at any time by swinging the lever 2l0 in the opposite direction. The table dogs 220 are provided for automatically actuating the lever 2I8 so as to reverse the movement of the table at the proper time. In the main fluid exhaust line 22I there is connected 9. low pressure fluid line 222 which communicates with the filter 223 and return fluid conduit 224. The filter is preferably semi-automatic and of the continuous cleaning type. Controlled amounts of lubricant pass from the filter through the pipe connection 223, needle valve 220 and conduits 221 to the table, suppo rt V-way22 and flatway 24 to lubricate the same during operation of the machine.

The foot valve m in the discharge line 22I is provided to regulate the .rate of discharge of the hydraulic fluid soas to produce sufficient flow .of oil through the Iowpressure line 222. Electric control button switches 230 are suitably positioned adjacent the control levers, as shown in Figure 1. and are connected electrically to the grinding wheel motors and hydraulic fluid pump means. General operation In operating the machine it will be understood that the work feed table and attached work piece 'member 11- will be hydraulically reciprocated beneath the grinding wheel members I'll. The

grinding wheels are vertically positioned to contact the work piece surface which it is desired to grind.

Reciprocation of the table It is started, when the hydraulic fluid system is in operation by. moving the control lever 2 I 8 so as to admit fluid under pressure to the cylinder 25. The dogs 220 which move with thetable are set to engage the lever at the proper timeto reverse the movement of the piston 2l8 so as to reciprocate thetable back and forth. Lateral movement of the grinding wheels I'll is then set for automatic or manual operation by setting the control means 69' and dogs 92 as described above. The speed of movegrinding wheels facing each other, the axes. of said grinding wheels being substantially in line with each other.

3. In a multiway grinding machine, the combination of a bed for positioning'work to be ground, means for moving said work on said bed, a frame structure associated with said .bed comprising ment of the table iscontrolled by the lever 2M supporting uprights and rigid bracing means rigidly connecting the top of said uprights above said bed and the work being ground, means comprising a grinding wheel, driving and adjusting mechanism adjustable and independently mounted on each one of said vertical supports, whereby the load of said grinding wheel mechanism is carried independently on each of said supports while the means connecting the top of said support and the bottom thereof insures a predetermined position between said grinding wheel mechanism, and means for rigidly and immovably connect ing said uprights to said bed adjacent one of their ends at the other of their ends,'to thereby form arigid parallelogram with said grinding wheels facing eachother the axes of said grinding wheels being substantially in line with each other, said adjusting mechanism having means for adjusting said grinding wheels in parallel vertical planes toward and away from said work.

It will be further understood that this invention is not limitedto the specific details of construction shown and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what -I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a multiway grinding machine, the combination of a bed for positioning work to be ground, means for moving'said work on said bed, a frame structure associated with said bed comprising supporting uprights and rigid bracing means rigidly connecting the top of said uprights abovesaid bed and the work being ground, means comprising a grinding wheel, driving and adlusting mechanism adjustable and independently 'mounted on each one of said vertical supports,

whereby the load of said grinding wheel mechanism iscarried independently on each of said supports while the means connecting the top of means for moving said work on said bed, a frame structure associated with said bed comprising supportinguprights and rigid'bracing means rig- 4. In a multiway grinding machine, the combination of a bed for positioning work to be ground. means for moving said work on'said' bed, a frame structure associated with said bed comprising supporting uprights and rigid bracing means rigidly connecting the top of said uprights above said bed and the work'being ground, meanscomprising a grinding wheel, driving and adjusting mechanism adjustable and independently mounted on each one of said vertical supports, whereby the load of said grinding wheel mechanism is carried independently on each of said supports while themeans' connecting the top of said support and the bottom thereof insures apredetermined position between said grinding wheel mechanism, and means for rigidly and immovably connecting said uprights to said bed adjacent one of their ends at the other of their ends.

ing means for adjusting said grinding wheels in parallel vertical planes toward and away from said work, said last named means including vertically mounted screw shaft members to thereby move said grinding wheels in said verticalplanes.

7 machine, the combia 1 nation of shed for positioning work to be ground,

idly connecting the top of said uprights; above I said bed and the woi'k being around, means comprising a grinding wheel, driving and adjusting mechanism adjustable and independently mount- 1 nb1y. 9.9!mecting. said uprights to said bed adjacent one of their ends at the other of their ends, to thereby form a rigid parallelogram with said 5. Ina multiway grinding machine, the combination of a bed for positioning work to be ground, means for moving said work on said bed, a frame structure associated with said bed comprising supporting uprights and rigid bracing means ri idly'connectin'g the top of said uprightsabove said bed and the work being ground, each upright having a supporting crosshead, bearings mounted in each crosshead comprising a plainbearing and an adjustable bearing mounted on opposite sides of said crosshead,- a shaft mounted in said bearings of each crosshead, a grinding wheel on one end of each shaft, a motor having its armature mounted on each of said shafts between said bearings and its stator-mounted in the crosshead, means for adjusting each crosshead and its grinding wheel assembly in said 6. In a multiway grinding machine, thecombishaft, 9. motor having its armature mounted on each of said shafts between said bearings and its stator mounted'in the crosshead, means for adjusting each crosshead and its grinding wheel assembly in said uprights, whereby the entire v load or each grinding wheel, its motor, and crosshead is supported by one of said uprights. and

means for moving said motors and grinding wheels in unison transversely of said work.

CHRISTIAN BALDEN'HOFER. 

